Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-04-28
ISRAEL IN EGYPT.
EXPLANATORY NOTES BY S. !. CUR
TlSS, PHI. o., D. D.

Lesson of the International Series
Second Quarter), for Sunday, May 1.
Text of the Lesson, Ex. 1, e-14-Gol-
den Text, Ps. CIV, "a.
There is no attempt in the Bible to record
history for its own sake. Hundreds of years
intervene between the events described in the
last chapters Of Genesis and those to which
we are introduced in the early chapters of
Exodus Ex. xii, 40. While the story of those
years would be interesting, as would the ac-
count of what our Lord did before his en-
trance ON his ministry, yet it would doubtless
be without significance for the history Of re-
demption.
THE LESSON
The Rapid Increase of the Israelites-In the
sixth verse the end of the history in Genesis
is reproduced as a fitting introduction to
what is TO follow Joseph and all his brethren
and all that generation die, but ever increaS-
ing multitudes rise to take their places.
V. z. The same language is used here as in
the first chapters of Genesis, where the au-
thor wishes to set forth the rapid increase of
animal life Gen i, 20; viii, ~. They are
even spoken of as swarming, and it is said
that the land was filled with them. The land
to which allusion is made is none other than
the land Of Goshen. We learn from other
sources of the wonderful increase of the in
habitants of Egypt
The New King ". S)-Meanwhile the dynas-
Iy of shepherd kings, who, as we have seen,
were of a kindred race because of their
Semitic origin, had come to an end. The
Hyksos kings had been expelled from the
country, and native Egyptian dynasty had
taken their place, who did not know Joseph,
OF if they knew him had no regard for him or
his people. do not know who this new
king was, although it is pretty generally sup
posed that Ramses II was the Pharaoh Of the
oppression.
VS.. s, o. 1t could not have been absolutely
true that the Israelites were more numerous
than the Egyptians, for the Egyptians are
supposed to have numbered about Z, 100000,
and at a later period the Israelites could
hardly have numbered more than 1000, 900 or
100000 Still the rapid increase of strong,
hardy race, who were probably much supe
rior in physical strength to the Egyptians,
must have been very alarming.
Zoan ". 10-Tbe capital of the king at
that time was in Zoan, or Tsnis, in the land
of Goshen. This was chosen because it was
necessary, as Ebers says, for Ramses II to
stand with one foot in Egypt and the other
in Syria. He was therefore in the very midst
of the Israelites. Their rapid increase, there
fore, could not escape his observation or the
danger arising therefrom- As we have re-
marked, Goshen was the northeast district of
Egypt It was therefore on the high road to
the land of the Hittites, the Assyrians and
the other peoples of the east. Ramses II car
ried on war for years with the Hittites. If
he was the king, therefore, intended in this
L. kl,e
Israelitss might form an alliance with the
enemy and easily escape from Egypt
The Store Cities ". 11)-The king therefore
sought to break the spirits of the people with
hard labor The Egyptians were ths greatest
builders of antiquity But their pyramids
and temples, which excite the wonder of men
to-day, were built with the forced labor Of
their subjects The king placed over the
Israelites foreign taskmasters, who doubtless
beat them cruelty. They were engaged in
building store cities, perhaps where provi-
sions for the campaigns in the east could be
stored. An exploration society called "The
Egypt Exploration Fund" is making in
teresting excavations in Egypt 1t is
believed that the true site Of Pithom has been
discovered In it extensive storehouses have
been found. The true location Of Ramses
still remains TO be found.
Israel Kept Increasing ". 12-An these
efforts to break down the spirit of the people
and to diminish their numbers were to no
purpose. The more the Egyptians oppressed
the Hebrews the more they increased, SO that
the Egyptians were distressed before them.
VS.. 13, a The Egyptians, therefore, re-
newed their efforts They made their SER
vice as painful as possible, thus embittering
their lives, in the construction Of buildings
and in their work in the fields All these op-
pressions, however, as the result will show,
were of no avail, for Israel was Gods cove
nant people Gen xvii, 2, etc.. His word
was to be fulfilled.
Israel Miracle Of History-Israel is in
deed a miracle of history. No people on earth
has suffered such cruel wrongs, and no peo-
pie to-day possesses greater physical force or
mental vitality We may well believe that
Gods chosen people are yet to bear an i'm
portant part in the consummation of redemp-
tive history.
POINTS TO BE REMEMBERED.
1. The brightest pages of the worlds his
tory, according to mans estimate, are Of no
account to God unless they have some bear
ing on the advancement Of his kingdom.
2 When God has great work for his peo-
pie he first tries them in the furnace of afflic-
ton
g. God remembers his covenant.-Sunday
School World.